ZHANGJIAKOU, China – After sledding through a tough 15K four days ago, in windy and snapping cold conditions, and collapsing from exhaustion with a sixth-place finish, Jessie Diggins was primed and poised to medal in her next race.
The 30-year-old took the Olympic bronze medal Tuesday night in the women’s free sprint, not one bit of a surprise out of 91 competitors who began the day in the qualifying rounds, where Diggins was seeded 18th.
Sweden's Jonna Sundling won the gold followed by Maja Dahlqvist with the silver.
Four years after making history in her sport, Diggins won the first individual medal in cross-country skiing by an American woman.